Molecules 2010, 15(1), 545-553; doi:10.3390/molecules15010545
Article

Antiproliferative Effect and Ultrastructural Alterations Induced by Psilostachyin on Trypanosoma cruzi

Valeria Sülsen 1,† email, Patricia Barrera 2,† email, Liliana Muschietti 1,* email, Virginia Martino 1 email and Miguel Sosa 2 email
1 Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Junín 956 (1113), CABA, Argentina 2 Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, CC 56 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina † These authors contributed equally to this work.
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 19 December 2009; in revised form: 13 January 2010 / Accepted: 18 January 2010 / Published: 25 January 2010
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Abstract: The effect of psilostachyin, a natural sesquiterpene lactone, on the growth and viability of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen) is reported. The antiproliferative effect was evaluated by counting the parasites in a Neubauer chamber and measuring their viability by using the dye exclusion technique. The effect on parasite growth was irreversible at concentrations higher than 1.0 µg/mL and the addition of glutathione only partially blocked the effect of the compound. Moreover, we have studied the effects of this natural compound on parasite ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. Interestingly, psilostachyin induced ultrastructural alterations on the parasites at a concentration of 0.5 µg/mL, with important mitochondrial swelling and deformity of the kinetoplast.
Keywords: sesquiterpene lactone; psilostachyin; Trypanosoma cruzi; ultrastructural alterations

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sülsen, V.; Barrera, P.; Muschietti, L.; Martino, V.; Sosa, M. Antiproliferative Effect and Ultrastructural Alterations Induced by Psilostachyin on Trypanosoma cruzi. Molecules 2010, 15, 545-553.

AMA Style

Sülsen V, Barrera P, Muschietti L, Martino V, Sosa M. Antiproliferative Effect and Ultrastructural Alterations Induced by Psilostachyin on Trypanosoma cruzi. Molecules. 2010; 15(1):545-553.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sülsen, Valeria; Barrera, Patricia; Muschietti, Liliana; Martino, Virginia; Sosa, Miguel. 2010. "Antiproliferative Effect and Ultrastructural Alterations Induced by Psilostachyin on Trypanosoma cruzi." Molecules 15, no. 1: 545-553.

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